MIKE GANTER, QMI Agency

It wasn’t comfortable by any means, but the Raptors got the result they needed.

Up by as many as 21 in the first half and trying to buy some time for some of its over-used starters, the Raptors nearly let this one slip away before righting the ship for a 98-93 win.

The inbound play, which has definitely not been the Raptors’ friend in the past, worked to the Raps advantage this time as the Magic didn’t get an attempt when it failed to get the ball in during the required five seconds.

Give the Raptors full credit for their role in that game-turning play, but any Raptors’ fan with even a semblance of team history had to be laughing at the irony of that one.

Sure, it never should have got to that point, but you have to admire the resilience in this Raptors team that can overcome its own mistakes and finish the job when everything is pointing in the opponent’s favour.